Periodontal disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is a condition that affects millions of people. Poor dental care causes gum disease. As bacteria spreads, it inflames and infects the gum tissue. Allen Dental Center is a trusted dental office that offers comprehensive periodontal disease treatment in Allen, TX.
Gum disease is a progressive problem that requires professional dental care. It can lead to serious health concerns, including tooth loss, bone loss, and infections that can spread to other parts of the body. Our dental team can diagnose your condition and offer the most effective restorative treatment.
What Is Gum Disease and What Causes It?
A good oral hygiene routine removes bacteria from the teeth and gums. However, harmful bacteria can affect your gum tissue without brushing and flossing regularly.
Plaque accumulates in our mouths daily. This sticky bacterial film can harm oral health. Plaque left in the mouth can also accumulate on the teeth and harden into tartar.
If you do not clean your mouth thoroughly, plaque and tartar will attack the gums, causing inflammation and infection. The infection will progress and eventually harm the ligaments and underlying bone.
The main factors that lead to gum disease include:
- Poor oral hygiene habits, such as inadequate brushing and flossing, allow plaque to accumulate.
- Smoking and using tobacco products reduces blood flow to the gums. Reduced blood flow makes it harder for the body to heal gum infections.
- Genetics can make it easier for some patients to develop gum issues.
- Several diseases, such as diabetes and autoimmune disorders, can increase your risk.
- Some medications, such as antihypertensives and anticonvulsants, can contribute to gum tissue problems.
- Women who are pregnant, going through menopause, or menstruating are more prone to gum tissue inflammation. Hormonal changes can increase gum sensitivity, which is why many women can develop gum inflammation.
- A diet lacking proper nutrients can weaken the immune system. Weakened immune systems make it harder for the body to fight gum infections.
Periodontal disease treatment in our Allen, TX, dental office can help treat gum problems, regardless of the cause.
The Stages of Gum Disease
Gum disease is progressive. Without treatment, it will progress through several stages and cause serious harm to your oral health. The stages of gum disease include:
Gingivitis
Gum inflammation is the beginning stage of gum disease. Most people do not know they have it because the symptoms may be minor.
Some signs of gingivitis include redness, swelling, and bleeding gums while brushing or flossing. Our dentist can easily treat your gum infection during this stage with regular cleanings. Our dentist also recommends brushing and flossing at home.
Early Periodontitis
Without proper treatment, gingivitis will progress into early gum disease. In this stage, pockets form between the teeth and gums. These pockets provide a place for bacteria to thrive and multiply.
Left untreated, early gum disease can lead to further inflammation, infection, and the beginning stages of bone loss.
Moderate Periodontitis
Once the bacteria in the pockets between the teeth and gums multiply, gum pockets become deeper. The infection will eat away at your gums causing gum recession, tooth sensitivity, and teeth shifting may be noticeable. You will also have increased bone loss.
Advanced Periodontitis
Deep gum pockets are noticeable in this advanced stage of gum disease. Significant bone loss is also common. In this stage, you can encounter loose teeth, and you are at a high risk of tooth loss.
Treatment will involve advanced procedures, including surgery and grafting. However, most damage is permanent.
Signs of Gum Disease
Early treatment is your best chance at avoiding permanent, significant damage. Common signs of this dental condition include:
- Inflamed gums or red, swollen gums
- Gums that bleed when brushing, flossing, or eating hard foods
- Bad breath, also known as halitosis, due to harmful bacteria in the mouth
- Gums that pull away from the teeth, making teeth appear longer
- Sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods and drinks
- Pus between the teeth and gums
- Teeth that feel loose or shift in position
- Changes in the way teeth fit together when biting or chewing
- Changes in the way your dentures fit
Our experienced dental team can provide gum disease screening at your routine dental exam. We will look for signs of inflammation, bleeding, or recession. In addition, we can measure the depth of your gum pockets using a periodontal probe to determine the severity of the disease.
Digital X-rays can help assess bone loss in your jaw. Once you have a diagnosis, we will develop a treatment plan to improve the health of your gums.
Periodontal Disease Treatment in Allen, TX
Our dentist will first need to determine your stage of gum disease to find the best treatment. We aim to eliminate your infection and reduce side effects. Gum disease treatment also preserves as much of your natural teeth and gum tissues as possible.
Scaling and Root Planing
A non-surgical treatment for gum disease is scaling and root planing. This intensive, deep cleaning removes deposits of plaque and tartar from below the gum line and the tooth roots.
First, we scrape bacteria from the gums. Then, our dentist will smooth out the surface of the roots to prevent further infections. This procedure can eliminate the bacteria before they cause serious damage. Tooth loss or severe gum recession is common in the later stages of gum disease.
Antibiotics
Sometimes, patients need antibiotics to help control bacterial infections. Our dentist will prescribe this as an oral pill, topical gel, or a mouth rinse. We often use medicine along with scaling and root planing. After we clean the gums and tooth roots, we can place antibiotics in the gum pockets to prevent reinfection.
Periodontal Surgery
Surgery is often necessary with advanced gum disease. Removing diseased tissue can help control the infection. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss. Surgery can prevent permanent tooth loss by treating the infected gum tissue. We can refer you to get gum surgery if you have advanced gum disease.
Grafting Procedures
We recommend grafting for moderate and advanced gum disease. Patients in these stages suffer from bone loss and gum recession.
Common grafting procedures treat the gum and bone. Connective tissue grafts help replace lost gum tissue, and bone grafts add healthy tissue to rebuild natural bone. Grafts help prevent further loss, stabilize teeth and gums, and improve the smile’s appearance.
How to Prevent Gum Disease
At home and in our office, you can take multiple steps to fight gum disease. Stop gum disease before it spreads with:
- Good oral hygiene: Brush and floss twice a day. Floss between each tooth to remove food and bacteria from the gums. Then, brush for two minutes twice a day. If you have bleeding gums, continue to gently brush and floss. Then, contact us for a cleaning.
- Toothbrush Replacement: Replace your toothbrush every three months or as the bristles wear down. We recommend regularly replacing your toothbrush as bacteria can grow on the brush over time. A fresh toothbrush will reduce the risk of bacteria buildup.
- Regular Dental Visits: We provide cleanings to remove bacteria from the teeth and gums. Our office can also examine your mouth to look for signs of gum infection. We recommend that you visit us two twice a year. If you have gum disease that keeps returning, we will recommend that you visit us more often for a deep cleaning.
- Avoiding Tobacco: Cigarettes, vapes, and other tobacco products can increase the risk of dry mouth. Dry mouth reduces the saliva in the mouth, which creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Smoking and dry mouth increases your risk of gum disease.
Gum Disease Treatment FAQs
Learn more about periodontal disease treatment in Allen, TX, with answers to these patient questions:
Do bleeding gums mean I have gum disease?
Bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease, but they can also happen for other reasons:
- Brushing Too Hard: Using a hard-bristled toothbrush or scrubbing your gums too roughly can cause bleeding.
- Flossing Changes: If you just started flossing or haven’t flossed in a while, your gums may bleed at first.
- Medications: Some medications, like blood thinners, can make gums more likely to bleed.
- Vitamin Deficiencies: A lack of vitamin C or K can sometimes lead to bleeding gums.
If your gums bleed often, don’t ignore it. Try brushing and flossing gently every day and using a soft-bristled toothbrush. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after a few days or you notice bad breath or swollen gums, visit our dentist.
How often should I visit the dentist if I have gum disease?
If you have gum disease, how often you should visit the dentist depends on how severe your condition is. For mild gum disease (gingivitis), our dentist might recommend coming in every 3 to 4 months for cleanings and checkups. This helps remove plaque and tartar that can make gum disease worse.
If your gum disease is more advanced (periodontitis), you may need to see the dentist more often, like every 2 to 3 months. This is because deeper cleanings and special treatments are often needed to manage the infection and prevent further damage to your gums and teeth.
Why do my gums bleed when I’m pregnant?
Bleeding gums during pregnancy often indicate a problem called pregnancy gingivitis. When you’re pregnant, your body produces more hormones like progesterone, which can increase blood flow to your gums. This makes your gums more sensitive and prone to swelling, redness, and bleeding, especially when you brush or floss.
Why can gum disease cause bad breath?
Gum disease can cause bad breath because it’s often caused by a buildup of bacteria in your mouth. When you have gum disease, harmful bacteria grow in the pockets between your teeth and gums. These bacteria release toxins and produce smelly gases as they break down food particles and plaque. This can lead to a persistent bad odor.
Is gum disease treatment painful?
If you have gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, our dentist will recommend a professional cleaning and better brushing and flossing at home. This painless treatment can help stop gum disease before it worsens.
If gum disease has advanced, deeper cleaning treatments like scaling and root planing may be needed. These clean below the gumline to remove bacteria and plaque buildup. Our dentist will numb your gums so you don’t feel pain during the procedure, but you may have mild soreness afterward.
For severe gum disease, treatments like laser therapy or gum surgery may be necessary. The dentist will use numbing medicine to keep you comfortable. Most people only feel mild soreness after the procedure.
Can I reverse gum disease on my own?
If you have gingivitis (the early stage of gum disease), you can reverse it with good oral care. But if it has progressed to periodontitis (a more serious stage), you will need our help.
If you only have signs of bleeding gums, you can reverse your early symptoms at home:
- Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Floss daily to remove plaque and food between your teeth.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash to help reduce bacteria.
- Eat a healthy diet and avoid too much sugar, which feeds bacteria.
- Quit smoking because it makes gum disease worse.
If you develop gum disease, your gums may pull away from your teeth and form deep pockets of infection. At this stage, you cannot reverse gum disease on your own. However, our dental office can provide gum disease treatment.
Is gum disease a dental emergency?
Gum disease is not always a dental emergency, but it can turn into one if it gets worse.
If you have gingivitis (early gum disease), your gums may be red, swollen, or bleed when you brush, but it doesn’t usually require urgent care. You should still see a dentist soon to stop it from getting worse.
However, you should call a dentist right away if you have:
- Severe pain or swelling in your gums that won’t go away.
- Gums that pull away from your teeth and feel loose.
- Pus, a bad taste, or a bad smell coming from your gums.
- A high fever and gum pain.
How much does it cost to treat gum disease?
The cost of your gum disease treatment will depend on the treatment type. If you have gum inflammation and just need a better routine, you can brush and floss at home. This is the cheapest option.
If you need routine deep gum cleanings, it will cost more than at-home care. The most expensive treatment for gum disease is gum surgery. The more severe the infection, the more the treatment will cost.
Restore Your Gum Health
Do you have inflamed, red, and bleeding gums? Call Allen Dental Center for gum disease treatment at 972.640.7564. You can also schedule an appointment with us online.
Please let us know if you have questions about periodontal disease treatment in our Allen, TX, office. We serve patients in Twin Creeks, Fairview, and other communities in Allen.